After Tuesday’s clashes in Victory Square, some livestock farmers remained in Bucharest, and the livestock farmers’ protest is continuing on Wednesday, gandul.ro reports.

In the early hours of the morning, there are approximately 70 protesters in Victory Square, but their number is gradually increasing. The people are voicing their anger outside the Government building: “Why do they want to kill the animals? What have they got against our animals?”

“We’ll stay here until it is resolved. We’ll stay and keep staying,” one of the shepherds said.

The farmers are asking to be allowed into the building to speak to Ilie Bolojan.

The protest began at around 10:00, the farmers’ main grievance being the difficult situation in the livestock sector. However, the protest turned violent on Tuesday after some of the demonstrators clashed with the law-enforcement officers. Gendarmes used tear gas to calm the protesters who had become violent. Chants in support of Călin Georgescu were also heard during the protest.

The protesters also chanted “Down with the Government”, “We’re not leaving!”, and “United, let’s all get rid of the thieves!”. Several representatives of the sheep farmers protesting in Victory Square submitted a list of demands to the Government. Their main grievances are the halt to sheep and goat exports and the way outbreaks of animal diseases are being managed.

The sheep farmers are contesting the measures applied in cases of sheep plague and sheep pox, particularly the culling of animals, which they say is causing them significant losses. The protesters are calling for measures to limit the culling of flocks and for appropriate compensation for the affected farmers.

The farmers’ protest on Tuesday, 15 September, ended after hours of tension in Victory Square. There was pushing and clashes with the gendarmes, tear gas was used, and several people were taken to police stations.

According to the account issued by the Bucharest Gendarmerie, 47 people whom the institution says committed antisocial acts were taken to police stations.

Ten gendarmes were injured during the incidents, while four were taken to hospital for further medical care. The law-enforcement officers imposed 15 administrative penalties, totalling 21,500 lei. Two Gendarmerie vehicles were damaged.